Vols football coach Jeremy Pruitt to Memphis: 'This is going to be our city'

Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks after addressing supporters and fans at the Memphis Hilton Thursday following National Signing Day

At the end of his signing day breakfast at the Memphis Hilton Thursday, new Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt made a bold proclamation.

“This is going to be our city, I can tell you that right now. We’re going to be here as many opportunities as we can get. We’re going to get guys up there,” Pruitt said. “This is going to be a priority for us.”

It was a warning shot for sure, but also a reminder that Pruitt — hired two months ago after serving as Alabama’s defensive coordinator — wants to immediately change the culture at Tennessee.

Memphis, in contrast, only signed one local player in this year’s class in linebacker Nyle Love from Lausanne.

“Every year, there’s probably going to be four to six guys from this area that meet our criteria,” Pruitt said. “And that may be as many as there are in the entire rest of the state put together.”

The Vols currently have five players from Memphis on their roster in addition to Banks and Carvin. A top 2019 target for the Vols is four-star Lausanne running back and Gatorade state player of the year Eric Gray, who also holds an offer from Memphis as well as Stanford, Ole Miss and Michigan, among others.

Pruitt’s message hit even more clearly with three of his assistants present Thursday having ties to Memphis, including new wide receiver coach David Johnson who left the Tigers in January to join Pruitt’s staff.

New offensive coordinator Tyson Helton and linebackers coach Chris Rumph were previously Memphis assistants and were on the same staff in 2004 and 2005.

Johnson did not mention former Tigers wide receiver Anthony Miller by name, but referred to Miller’s growth from walk-on to the program’s all-time leading receiver to show how he’ll develop receivers at Tennessee.

“My biggest thing is no excuses; whether you’re a five-star or a walk-on,” Johnson said, “If you’re willing to play and put in the work, that’s what we want.”

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt introduces the football staff and the year’s new signees during a Signing Day celebration at the Tennessee Theatre on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.